Rocket



(No Model.)

J. T. HADTIELD.

ROCKET.

Patented Aug 19, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN T. liAinumin, or MIDDnE'ro N,"connigorlo ucr, AssioNon 'ro unusn'nr AND .o. 12.. -nIDWnL-L, OF SAME PLACE.

ROCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303, 39, dated August 19, 1884.

Application filed February 2,1884, l V model.) 1 v To all whom, it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN T. HiufrrnLnpa' citizen of the United States,-residing.at Mid;- dletown, in the county of Middlesex andlS'tatef of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sky-Roekets of which the means employed for such purposes,- and there- 'bylessen the cost of production, and to the 210* eo nplishment thereof means'will beillustrated in the accompanying drawings, and a particular description thereof hereinafter-given Figure 1 of the drawings'js a -sid'e elevation illustrating the rocket supported by its stick in a vertical position, readyfor firing. Fig.2

' is a similar view showingzthe stiek'folded upon the rocket as it appears re'ady for packingfor transportation. -i Fig. 3 1s asimila'r view showing the rocket supported ,in'an inclined posiv In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the shell of the rocket, made in the usuahway, and Bthc'stiek's therefor. These sticks, of which there may be any desired number, {three being illustrated,) are secured-to the shell by-mcansof thin metal, leather, pa-

per, (or-'otlier-suitable material,) straps 0-, oneleaf of which is secured to' the ends of .the

sticks by tacks a, andjthe other leaf to'the: shell by means of a wir'e or'wires, b,'passed; around the shell and across the leaf. Thismode of attachmentlconsider to be the sim;

I plest and'cheapest, and as good as any other for: the pn rposeybutl do not confine myself to such method. The metal being' thin and like ahinge, so that the sticks may be folded {upagainst the sides of the shell, thereby also permits them lower end of the-shell, on different sides theregreatly reducing the length of the-rockets, an d consequently permitting them to be, packed in'a smaller space.- This h-inging ofthe-sticks to'be; extended below the of, so as to affordapropfor supporting the Q shell, the free ends of the sticks resting on any suitable base thatniay be at 'hand without requi ring any specially provided brace-support, as heretofore. 1 preferably bevel the inner faces of the sticks at the hinged ends, as shown, so that the sticks will lie closer to the sides of the shell when turned down as supports, thereby taking up less space. By hinging the sticks to the shell they admit of one or more of them being extendcd'out'ward at a greater angle than the other, so that the rocket will stand at an incline, 'as shown in Fig. 3. The angle of this inclination can be-altered to suit the ,purposes by merely changing, the angle of some of said inclined sticks with reference to the others. If preferred, the same effect of supporting the rocket at an incline by means of the sticks alone can be reached by making some of the sticks of shorter length than the others; but IYprefer to make them of one length, as thenthe rocket canthe bctter be supported eitherin an upright 0r inclined position. Another advantage gained by hing Ting thestieks is that after the rockethas been fired and theLShell is descending the sticks shell, and consequently lessen the force with which it will 'strikeany object in its course, andthus reduce the liability to injure any person who might be struck by the falling shell and stick. "These last are some of the advantages to be assigned to the construction; but

-what I consider to be the most important are the folding of thesticksito decrease the space needed for packing and transportation, the 'abili'tyto' support the roeketbyits own sticks or props without the aid of extraneous bracesupports, .and the ability to-set therocket at any desired angle bymeans of its. sticks or supports alone preparatory to firing. The

sticks might be secured to the shell by wires passing around both the sticks and shell, and

.thesticks themselves inade in sections hinged together by metal straps belowrthe end of the 'she1l,.;and thus permit thesticks to be'folde'd' during transportation, andfin'; the ease of a,

' will radiate from the sides of the shell, so as to offer more resistance to the descent of the single stick it might besecured and hinged in such manner. Fofa'n illustration of the sin-- gle stick the figures of thedrawin s. showing several sticks, will answer, assuming that all except one will be omitted.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim .is a

1. The combination, with a rocket-body and a series of supporting-sticks, of flexible straps,

whose ends are secured, respectively, tofsaid' body and sticks, substantially as described.

"2, The combination; with a rocket-body, of a series of sticks and flexible straps for secur- I ing said sticks to said body, the said straps forming flattened leaves, one flattened leaf bea series of sticks beveled at one end, and flexible straps secured at one end of the rocketbody' and at the other to thesticks, whereby the sticks may be folded onto the rocket body for transportation, and, when unfolded, ex- 2 0 tended at various angles to support the rocket at the desired angle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN T. HADFIELD.

Witnesses: EDWIN F. Sn I'ILDON,

l. HOWARD THOMPSON. 

